## **Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25** **National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults** _A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Registered in England and Wales_ ## **Scope of report** This report covers the period from **1 May 2024** to **30 April 2025** . ## **Organisational details** **Charity Registration Number:** 1198388 **Registered address:** NATECLA National Centre South & City College, Hall Green Campus, Cole Bank Road, Birmingham B28 8ES **Trustees:** Naeema Hann (Co-Chair) Paul Sceeny (Co-Chair) Nafisah Graham-Brown (Treasurer) Rachel Öner Mary Osmaston Jenny Roden **National Centre Manager:** Laura Plotnek-Jones **Bankers:** NatWest Bank PLC (Current) Santander Bank PLC (Deposit) **Independent Examiner:** Kerry Butcher Accountancy Services Exchange House Centre, Exchange House, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2AB **NATECLA** | natecla.org.uk ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Objects** NATECLA is established to advance all aspects of education and training in English for adult speakers of other languages for the public benefit in the United Kingdom. In furtherance of this the CIO will, in particular but not exclusively, provide a professional forum for: - teachers and those organising provision of English to adult Speakers of Other Languages (hereinafter known as ESOL) - teachers of community languages - others concerned with multi-lingual language issues in post-16 education. ## **Organisational structure** The CIO is governed by an ‘Association model’ Constitution, reflecting its status as a membership organisation. ## **Management Council** The CIO and its property is managed and administered by the Management Council (MC), comprising the Trustees and other members that have either elected by their respective NATECLA Branch (see ‘Branch activities’) or co-opted to serve on the MC. Three MC meetings take place over the course of each financial year (usually in September, January and March/April), with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) normally coinciding with NATECLA’s Annual Conference held in June. ## **Trustees** The following six Trustees served throughout this period: Nafisah Graham-Brown, Naeema Hann, Rachel Öner, Mary Osmaston, Jenny Roden and Paul Sceeny. ## **Co-Chairs** The CIO normally operates with two of the Trustees acting as Co-Chairs. Naeema Hann and Paul Sceeny served as Co-Chairs throughout this period. ## **Ruth Hayman Trust** NATECLA has a long-established relationship with the Ruth Hayman Trust (Charity Registration Number 287268), which awards educational grants to people who have come to settle within the United Kingdom and whose first language is not English. The Ruth Hayman Trust was established in 1983 in memory of Ruth Hayman, a South African lawyer who received a Banning Order for her opposition to apartheid before moving to London and helping to establish NATECLA’s forerunner, the National Association for the Teaching of English as a Second Language to Adults. The Ruth Hayman Trust receives no direct funding from the CIO, although encourages NATECLA members to support and donate to the Trust where they are in a position to do so. **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 2 ## **Key activities** ## **Aims, objectives and purposes** NATECLA was established as a forum and professional body for ESOL and community language teachers. The CIO seeks to develop and facilitate a community of practice, as well as to promote and protect the teaching and learning of ESOL and community languages. ## NATECLA’s work includes advocating for: - independence and professionalism in language education - ESOL and community language practitioners to be supported in their work - practitioners’ access to high quality and relevant training opportunities - diversity and multilingualism. Within the requirements of Charity Law on Political Activity, the CIO campaigns to improve ESOL and community language services, provision and conditions at local, regional and national levels for students and all practitioners. The CIO seeks to do this by: - securing funds for the CIO - offering training, and advice on training, to its members - making representations concerning the availability of funding on behalf of members and students - disseminating and encouraging research in relevant areas - disseminating new ideas and monitoring new developments in relevant areas - publishing and making available new materials relevant to the objects of the CIO - representing the interests and concerns of members on local, regional, national and international bodies - fostering good inter-community relations and combatting all forms of discrimination - engaging in any other activity necessary to attain the objects of the charity alone or in co-operation with any other agency, organisation or statutory body. During this period, the CIO was particularly engaged in organising conferences, webinars, training events and networking meetings. It provided expert advice to government bodies and other agencies, as well as publishing its own part peer-reviewed journal. ## **Public Benefit** When reviewing NATECLA’s objects, aims and objectives, and when planning its current and future activities, the Trustees are required to have regard for the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit, in particular requirements set out in PB1 (the Public Benefit) and PB2 (Running a Charity). They confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 in having due regard to the above Public Benefit guidance. The achievements and activities outlined in this report demonstrate the Public Benefit arising from the CIO’s activities. ## **Events and conferences** NATECLA’s Annual Conference is the CIO’s largest undertaking each year, held over two days at the end of June. The 2024 Conference had 221 attendees and included 36 different workshops delivered over 42 sessions. The latter part of this period included much of the preparation work for the 2025 Conference. An Events Sub-Committee oversees the organisation of all events. Other notable conferences and events that took place during this period included: **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 3 - NATECLA Cymru online event: Corpus tools for language teaching - NATECLA East of England Hybrid Conference: Pathways to employability (in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority) - NATECLA Midlands In-Person Conference: It’s ALL about the learner - Two online TeachMeet events - (in partnership with NOCN) - Two Adult Skills Fund expert briefing sessions for managers - (in partnership with Ascentis) - Three ESOL Managers’ Network events. - Three ESOL Research Community events. - Twelve webinars (in partnership with Ascentis), with topics including: - ESOL in the FE Context - neurodiversity - trauma-informed teaching - phonics. ## **Training and consultancy** NATECLA offers bespoke training and consultancy services to a range of organisations, including: - further education colleges - adult and community education services - independent training providers. Whilst these services are tailored to the specific needs of the organisations and individuals seeking the CIO’s support, in all cases they are designed to support teachers and managers in the teaching of ESOL and/or other community languages. This period saw a steady number of training enquiries, with approximately 25 sessions delivered (either online or face-to-face). The total income from this activity was £10,176.. ## **Professional exchange** ## **ESOL Research Community** Practitioner-led ESOL research is key to informing ESOL practice and developing CPD. Four Research Community events were held during this period. Topics included Participatory ESOL Teaching and effective strategies for promoting cultural inclusion in ESOL classrooms. ## **ESOL Managers’ Network** As well as facilitating peer-to-peer networking and support, the Managers’ Network is also intended to help strengthen NATECLA’s institutional relationships with Further Education colleges and other significant ESOL provider organisations. Three Network meetings took place during this period (in May 2024, November 2024 and March 2025), with topics including experiences of inspection, progression and policy developments within England. In between Network meetings, ESOL managers are also able to keep in touch and seek peer-topeer support through a dedicated WhatsApp group. ## **Advocacy** NATECLA’s Policy Group continued to monitor the ESOL policy landscape across each of the jurisdictions in which the CIO operates, responding to consultations and seeking opportunities to engage with policymakers. **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 4 The CIO continued to liaise regularly with other organisations with complementary objectives (e.g. concerning language education, support for migrant/minoritised communities and adult education). Within England it worked particularly closely with the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Bell Foundation, Education & Training Foundation (ETF), English for Action London, HOLEX, the Learning & Work Institute and several Strategic Migration Partnerships. Branch committees working across the island of Ireland, Scotland and Wales meanwhile continued to engage with relevant stakeholders and policymakers. Ahead of the 2024 Westminster election, NATECLA developed a series of #ESOLasks to support conversations with candidates and parties. Recognising that responsibility for education and migrant integration is largely devolved in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, discrete sets of more relevant asks were devised in each case that could be used to encourage Westminster candidates to exert influence within their respective parties. The continued devolution of adult skills funding to combined/strategic authorities within England has made it necessary for the CIO to take a closer interest in how each one is seeking to develop adult ESOL provision and funding. NATECLA collaborated with AoC and the Bell Foundation in the production of a landmark report highlighting the range of innovative approaches and calling for these to be underpinned by a coherent England-wide national framework. NATECLA was also pleased to support the formation of the Coalition for Language Education, an umbrella body of organisations working in the general arena of language education and focusing on: - language in our lives - linguistic diversity - social and cultural change - classrooms - partnerships - [the vital contribution of] universities ## **Language Issues: The ESOL Journal** NATECLA continues to publish a twice-yearly, part peer-reviewed, journal that shares experiences of ESOL and community language teaching, training and management, as well as disseminating research and ideas relating to language, political and social issues. _Language Issues_ especially seeks to explore the relationship between academic research and classroom practice, providing an invaluable resource for teachers, students, researchers and policymakers. - All members of the CIO receive free access to _Language Issues_ via an online platform; it is also made available to libraries and non-members are able to purchase subscription-based access. ● Issue 35.1 of _Language Issues_ was published in June 2024 - Issue 35.2 of _Language Issues_ was published in January 2025. The _Language Issues_ blog also enables members and the ESOL community to comment and reflect on current events and issues relevant to ESOL populations. Blog pieces published during this period included covered subjects including sustainability, minorities in Ireland and reflections on NATECLA’s Annual Conference. ## **National Centre** The National Centre manages the day to day operations of the charity. During this period it consisted of two staff members. Both roles are based at complimentary office accommodation within the Hall Green campus of South & City College, Birmingham. **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 5 The two staff members during this period were: - Laura Plotnek-Jones, National Centre Manager - Irene Ostos, Assistant National Coordinator Organising and holding the CIO’s 2024 Annual Conference was a major focus of National Centre activity during the first part of this period, whereas preparing and securing sponsorship for the 2025 Conference was the key focus during the latter part of the period. Other significant activities included supporting webinars, branch conferences, supporting new branches and other events/forums. The National Centre also produces a monthly members’ newsletter. The National Centre secured approximately £7,110 in sponsorship income during this period. ## **New Members’ Platform and website refresh** One key area of work completed by the National Centre during this period was the launch of a new online Members’ Platform for individual and institutional members to self-manage their membership and interact with other members. The launch of the Members' Platform coincided with a launch of a brand new public website with improved information flow and brand imagery. ## **Membership** By the end of this period, NATECLA had 143 institutional members and 372 individual members. Membership subscriptions is by far the largest source of income for the CIO, bringing in £27,682 during this period. Membership figures remained steady compared with previous years, with a slight drop in the number of institutional members. Institutional member organisations are entitled to up to five member-rate delegate places (two places, in the case of small institutions) at NATECLA events and conferences, as well as discounted access to NATECLA’s bespoke training services. During this period the Equality & Diversity Working Group carried out a member survey, the findings from which have since been shared with members in summary form. Key findings showed the diversity of NATECLA members and their commitment to NATECLA being a professional forum for teachers of English and other community languages. Challenges to getting more actively involved in NATECLA’s work were reported, such as workplace demands and caring responsibilities. The survey highlighted a demand for mentoring and information about membership benefits. The new NATECLA website and membership platform are addressing these demands by providing spaces for teachers to network and share resources, tailoring and advertising NATECLA CPD as well as invitations to become involved in NATECLA working groups. ## **Branch activities** All members of NATECLA are automatically members of their local branch. During this period the CIO had nine active branches, covering: - East of England - English Midlands - London - North West England - South West England - Yorkshire and Humber - Island of Ireland - Scotland - Cymru/Wales. All individual and institutional members based within these areas are automatically members of their respective branch. Branch activities typically include regional and local events/forums, **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 6 webinars and conferences that seek to bring together NATECLA members and others with related interests. The CIO’s online Members’ Platform has a dedicated area for each branch to co-ordinate branch events and to share branch specific issues and resources. The Trustees and National Centre also continued to encourage the activation of branches in the remaining regions of England (i.e. North East and South East). **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 7 ## **Financial review** A full set of accounts for the period covered by this report have been presented for independent examination. For details, please see **Appendix I** . ## **Summary of financial position for 2024-25** Total Income: **£98,535** Total Expenditure: **£107,557** Net Income/(Expenditure): **(£9,022)** The CIO’s total income for the period was £14,2156 lower than the £112,751 received in 202324, although this can be attributed mainly to phasing differences in the receipt of sponsorship income and lower consultancy and training income during the final quarter. Expenditure was up by £6,022 during the period (the corresponding figure for 2024-24 was £101,535), resulting in an in-year deficit of £9,022. It should be noted that the CIO invested in a new online Members’ Platform and website during this period, involving direct capital costs of £10,581 as well as a significant amount of additional staffing time during the development and rollout period. The Members’ Platform has delivered a considerable improvements in member experience, as well as being likely to ease some of the administrative burden associated with the manual generation of invoices for institutional members. It is important also to acknowledge that income and expenditure relating to the CIO’s Annual Conference (normally held at the end of June) typically spans two financial years. Even minor differences in ticket sale patterns, venue costs and the receipt of sponsorship income can therefore have a distorting effect on the end-of-year position. The Trustees are therefore exploring whether it might be prudent to move towards adopting an accruals-based accounting method for future years. ## **Reserves policy** NATECLA’s Management Council agreed at its July 2020 meeting that it would aim to maintain reserves equivalent to nine months’ operating costs. This is to ensure the CIO would be able to meet its essential costs (most notably salaries) in the event of a period of reduced income and/or an unexpected event that prevented its training or conference events from taking place. **Total** reserves (across all accounts) as of 30 April 2025 were £52,421, representing around 13 months’ operating costs. **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 8 ## **Declarations** The Trustees declare that they have approved the 2024-25 report above. ______________________________________ Naeema Hann (Co-Chair) ______________________________________ Paul Sceeny (Co-Chair) ______________________________________ Nafisah Graham-Brown (Treasurer) ______________________________________ Rachel Öner ______________________________________ Mary Osmaston ______________________________________ Jenny Roden ## 5 February 2026 **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 9 ## **Appendix I Accounts for the period ended 30 April 2025** A full set of independently examined financial accounts for the CIO can be found on the following pages. **NATECLA** | Annual Report of the Trustees 2024-25 | Page 10 Natlonal Association for Teathln8 Engllsh & other Communlty languages to Adults Charltable Incorporated Organlsatlon Number 1198388 Accounts for the Year to 30 Aprll 2025 NATECLA Charftable Incorporated Organ15atlon Registered Charity Number 1198388 Report to the Tn￿teeWembers of NATECLA on the Accounts tor the year ended 30 April 2025 l am reporting on the accounts of the National Association For Teaching English & Other Community Languages Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the year ended 30 April 2025 which are set out on the following pages. Responslbllltles and basls of report The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145 (5l(b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention to in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respert accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed .....Ktrry 5trv(￿.......... Dated 19 June 2025 Kery Butcher Accountancy Services Exchange House Centre Exchange House Attleborough Norfolk NR17 2AB Te4* 1 14 1• jo T•*llknlXJ￿>o 41A6J 27.42 7.iio 10,176 L2n J9J67 26.036 24.210 14.434 1619 850 2.885 1.830 31Q Ui.751 Webrwrs E¥vrts 4.￿5 LO35 332 393 49 L561 24,775 J,355 B20 lJ.141 L055 we￿￿r L355 l E¥•nts S•l•ries 49J12 3,101 43,921 L695 W•bxlte E¥pEndliur• T•lephofv¢ Insur•r*t 264 L675 786 Tr•v•l •nd&Jb5Istert• O•n* c￿ry•S, Pay￿L Stdp• F••s iiss 2.071 107 107.SS7 101,S35 19,0111 A(C￿nI b•lances wifcfward n.024 110,5811 $2AI N•tWeiikcount tWe5t. 337 16.676 32.254 23.273 lJ.701 31,921 39 J.OS3 72 P•yP•l**cL¥srrt Strlpek¢• fvTru5tees H•nft. Ctr Ch• Il•fis•hGrnh•TrBrth¥n. Tmiur•r J•rJny Rod R•thEIOnw O•t•d 43.863 27,682 7,110 30.393 13,470 27.633 7,110 1.499 (3.2941 186 2.670 1.035 1724) 49.585 Membership Sponsorship Consuliancy Language15sues Training Webinars Regional Events Bank Interest Re￿Ned and Charges 1.561 4,566 1.272 10.176 4.￿5 1,035 332 98535 1,335 1.056 48.950 Natlonal Centre Exendlture Salaries National Centre Expenses 49.512 9,095 (49,512) (9,095) 58,607 {58,607 Total Income less Total Expenditure 98,535 107.557 19.022) Funds/Profit brought forwafd at l May 2024 Less Net Income/lExpenditure} for Period 72,024 (9,022) Less - Capital Expenditure - New Website Investment Profft/Funds avallable at 30 WII 2025 (10,5811 52,421 Made up ofr. Natwest Account Natwest New Accourrt Santander Deposit Account PayP31 Account Stripe Account 337 16,676 32,254 770 2,384 52.421 8•l•rK* SI￿1 as at X) April 2025 30 Aprfl 2025 30 Aprll 2024 Current A55ets Natwest Current Account Natwest Current Account (New) Santander Deposit Account Paypal Account Stripe Account 337 16,676 32.254 770 2,384 23.273 13.708 31,921 39 3,083 52,421 72,024 Net Assets 52,421 72.024 Aggregate Proflt brought forward Add Net Profit/(1055) for the year Capital Expenditure in year 72,024 19,0221 (10,581) 60,808 11,216 Aggregate PTofft carrled forward 52,421 72,024 Approved ty. The Trustees Paul Sceeny- Co-chair Naeema Hann- Chair Nafisah Grah own - Treasurer R chel Oner Mary Os ton Jenny Roden Dated Natlonal Association for Teathln8 Engllsh & other Communlty languages to Adults Charltable Incorporated Organlsatlon Number 1198388 Accounts for the Year to 30 Aprll 2025 NATECLA Charftable Incorporated Organ15atlon Registered Charity Number 1198388 Report to the Tn￿teeWembers of NATECLA on the Accounts tor the year ended 30 April 2025 l am reporting on the accounts of the National Association For Teaching English & Other Community Languages Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the year ended 30 April 2025 which are set out on the following pages. Responslbllltles and basls of report The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145 (5l(b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention to in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respert accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed .....Ktrry 5trv(￿.......... Dated 19 June 2025 Kery Butcher Accountancy Services Exchange House Centre Exchange House Attleborough Norfolk NR17 2AB Te4* 1 14 1• jo T•*llknlXJ￿>o 41A6J 27.42 7.iio 10,176 L2n J9J67 26.036 24.210 14.434 1619 850 2.885 1.830 31Q Ui.751 Webrwrs E¥vrts 4.￿5 LO35 332 393 49 L561 24,775 J,355 B20 lJ.141 L055 we￿￿r L355 l E¥•nts S•l•ries 49J12 3,101 43,921 L695 W•bxlte E¥pEndliur• T•lephofv¢ Insur•r*t 264 L675 786 Tr•v•l •nd&Jb5Istert• O•n* c￿ry•S, Pay￿L Stdp• F••s iiss 2.071 107 107.SS7 101,S35 19,0111 A(C￿nI b•lances wifcfward n.024 110,5811 $2AI N•tWeiikcount tWe5t. 337 16.676 32.254 23.273 lJ.701 31,921 39 J.OS3 72 P•yP•l**cL¥srrt Strlpek¢• fvTru5tees H•nft. Ctr Ch• Il•fis•hGrnh•TrBrth¥n. Tmiur•r J•rJny Rod R•thEIOnw O•t•d 43.863 27,682 7,110 30.393 13,470 27.633 7,110 1.499 (3.2941 186 2.670 1.035 1724) 49.585 Membership Sponsorship Consuliancy Language15sues Training Webinars Regional Events Bank Interest Re￿Ned and Charges 1.561 4,566 1.272 10.176 4.￿5 1,035 332 98535 1,335 1.056 48.950 Natlonal Centre Exendlture Salaries National Centre Expenses 49.512 9,095 (49,512) (9,095) 58,607 {58,607 Total Income less Total Expenditure 98,535 107.557 19.022) Funds/Profit brought forwafd at l May 2024 Less Net Income/lExpenditure} for Period 72,024 (9,022) Less - Capital Expenditure - New Website Investment Profft/Funds avallable at 30 WII 2025 (10,5811 52,421 Made up ofr. Natwest Account Natwest New Accourrt Santander Deposit Account PayP31 Account Stripe Account 337 16,676 32,254 770 2,384 52.421 8•l•rK* SI￿1 as at X) April 2025 30 Aprfl 2025 30 Aprll 2024 Current A55ets Natwest Current Account Natwest Current Account (New) Santander Deposit Account Paypal Account Stripe Account 337 16,676 32.254 770 2,384 23.273 13.708 31,921 39 3,083 52,421 72,024 Net Assets 52,421 72.024 Aggregate Proflt brought forward Add Net Profit/(1055) for the year Capital Expenditure in year 72,024 19,0221 (10,581) 60,808 11,216 Aggregate PTofft carrled forward 52,421 72,024 Approved ty. The Trustees Paul Sceeny- Co-chair Naeema Hann- Chair Nafisah Grah own - Treasurer R chel Oner Mary Os ton Jenny Roden Dated